I'll be your light

He opens the door to his apartment and yawns. “I’m so tired.” He mutters to himself. “Maybe I shouldn’t go to the dinner.” He scans through his closet to find decent clothes to wear to a dinner. He takes out a white shit, a black vest and black skinny jeans. “This is decent enough.” He decides. He picks up his pistol and stares at it. ‘Will I need it?’ he contemplates. Just to be safe, he slides the pistol into his belt and covers it with his vest.

He knocks on Melinda’s door and waits for her to answer. When she opens, he is mesmerized by what he sees. She is simply wearing a nice floral top, a black skirt and black high heels but he loves the sight of her. He clears his throat, “Are we ready to go?” he asks. She nods and smiles, she locks the door to her apartment and makes her way down the stairs with Yukwon. “You look beautiful by the way.” He blurts. ‘Oh dammit. I’m making a fool of myself.’ He thinks. She smiles brightly. “Thank you. You’re looking ravishing tonight.” She giggles.

The taxi is already waiting for them outside the apartment building. “How are you getting back?” Yukwon asks her. “Yijung might take me home. Did you need a lift?” she says. He politely declines. “Zico can just pick me up.” Honestly, he just doesn’t want to be in the car with both Yijung and Melinda. He sees the way Yijung acts around Melinda; he treats her differently to everyone else. Yukwon is sure he likes her. Yukwon takes out his phone and texts Zico. ‘Can you pick me up at 9:00?’ Zico instantly replies with ‘Sure. I’m taking the rest of them in the van because Kyung wants all of us to watch a movie at 10:30. You’re coming with us.’ Yukwon smiles. ‘See you all at 9.’ He replies.

They arrived at the restaurant. He helps her out and they enter. Yijung, Vanessa and Hyun sit on a large circle table. Vanessa waves her arms in the air, making sure Melinda sees her. “Hey!” they greet in unison. “We’re just waiting on Seungpyo, Sujung, Minhee and Hyorin and her boyfriend.” Vanessa says with a bright smile on her face. Melinda sits next to Vanessa and Yukwon sits next to her. The rest of the people finally come and the dinner begins. While they are enjoying the meal and each other’s company, Vanessa’s face suddenly becomes serious and she gently taps Melinda on the shoulder. “I think you should see this…” she says. Vanessa takes a magazine out of her handbag and hands it to her. A smile spreads on Melinda’s face, she turns the magazine cover to everyone at the table. “Hey, look guys.” She says happily. “Yijung and Yukwon are on the front cover of Music Magazine!” Everyone oohs and aahs and admires the models. Yukwon blushes in embarrassment. “No.” Vanessa says quietly. “Look at this.” She points to one of the texts boxes. ‘Leo finally speaks up about his 2 week relationship with a fan.’ Melinda’s heart almost stops, she looks up at Vanessa who has a sympathetic look on her face. Melinda attempts a laugh. “It’s probably some other Leo.” She tries. Vanessa slowly shakes her head. “Read page 5. I think you should know what he said.” Melinda shakily opens the magazine to page 5 and silently reads while Vanessa waits for her reactions. “After returning from their world tour, Leo has opened up about his two week relationship with a fan. ‘It was better for the both of us.” Leo stated. “She couldn’t handle long distance relationship and she was young and naïve. She couldn’t deal with not being around me and not knowing what I was doing, so she broke it off with me’ The words become blurry because tears fill her eyes. “Are you OK?” Vanessa asks softly. Melinda stands up, letting the magazine fall from her lap. “He’s lying.” She says. The tears roll down her face and she runs off. She pushes through the doors of the restaurant and stops outside, leaving her friends bewildered. “What happened?” Yijung asks Vanessa. “It’s about Leo. I think it’s best to leave her alone. There’s not much we can do about this.” She says sadly. But Yukwon is already on his way out the door.

The cold air bites at his face and it makes his flinch. “Damn it’s cold tonight.” He mutters. Melinda is gone. No one is in sight. He wonders where she is. “Melinda?” he shouts. “Where are you?” He walks around to the side of the building, searching for her. He hears a man say “Ow” and a muffled scream follows. Yukwon panics, thinking that it is Melinda. He runs to where he thinks the sound came from. He steps into an alleyway and blends in with the shadows. Holding his breath, he listens to what is happening. “Stop squirming.” A man says. Melinda lies on the floor and the man towers above her. Yukwon can faintly see a cloth tied around Melinda’s mouth to stop her from screaming, but she still makes muffled noises. “Keep watch.” The man on top of Melinda says. “You can have her when I’m done.” He says menacingly. Someone rises up from the ground next to him, Yukwon didn’t notice him there. He walks towards Yukwon but doesn’t see him yet. Yukwon takes this chance to strike. He elbows the watchman in the face and he instantly collapses on the floor. “Who’s there?” The other man asks. “Let go of the girl.” Yukwon says. Melinda’s eyes open wide and scream ‘help me’. “I’ll save you Melinda, I promise. Don’t worry.” Yukwon says. He reaches for the gun in his belt and holds it out. “Step away from the girl.” He demands. The man smiles and throws Melinda over his shoulder and runs deeper into the alleyway. Yukwon is about to pull the trigger when the man behind him stabs him in the back. Despite the stinging agony in his back, Yukwon turns and shoots the man in the leg, twice. The man screams and cries. Yukwon grabs hold of the man’s head and smashes it into the brick wall. He slumps on the floor, knocked out. Without another look at the man, he speeds off after Melinda. ‘I’ll save you Melinda. I promised you. Hang in there.’

Notes